Speak at TEDxPortsmouth

Applications are closed for 2024. Please check back in October to apply for 2025.

WANT TO APPLY? GREAT! (READ THIS FIRST.)

First off, we’re happy you’re interested in speaking at TEDxPortsmouth. We’re so proud of our homegrown event that has skyrocketed to one of the most successful TEDx events in the world. But this means we must be very selective. We have 10 spots to fill and about 200 applications each year. So how do you make it to the top of the pile? Luckily, we have some advice for you!

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE EVENT…

1. You must live or work within a 30-mile radius of our event OR TEDxPortsmouth must be your closest TEDx event. (Not sure? Look it up here)
   NOTE: We are in Portsmouth, NEW HAMPSHIRE not Portsmouth, Virginia or England. Don’t laugh. We get applications from Virginia and England every year.
2. You need to be free on the day of the event and the previous day. (Our event is just one day, but we have a full dress-rehearsal the day before, which is mandatory.)
3. You are submitting this application for yourself. (We will not review applications submitted by PR agencies, from your assistant, etc.)
4. You have not given this talk at a TEDx event before (even if it was a long time ago!)

STILL QUALIFIED? GREAT! LET’S KEEP GOING!

TED talks are unlike any other talk you’ll give and there are A LOT of rules about what is/is not acceptable as a topic. And some of what you’ll see here we’ve just learned from experience to avoid. So let’s just plow through them. Here is what will disqualify you as a speaker.

• Your idea is backed by questionable science.
• You have a clear religious or political agenda.
• You are not emotionally ready to give this talk. (e.g. Your talk is about a traumatic event you have not adequately processed.)
• It feels overdone or generic, e.g. “How to find your authentic voice.” “How to simplify your life with less.”
• It’s too broad, “How to be a better person.”
• You’re not really an expert, e.g. If you want to talk about plants, we want you to be a serious gardener or a botanist, not someone who just has a strong interest in plants.
• It is only of interest of value to a small niche, e.g. an obscure scientific trend that would only be interesting to cardiologists.
• We get the feeling that you have a promotional agenda. (re: You are using the TED platform to sell the audience on a product or service, even if covertly.)
• If you think you have what it takes, we want to hear from you!

SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Picture a Venn diagram. One circle is your domain of authority/expertise, the second circle is something you’re passionate about sharing, and third is something that has real value to the audience. We look for talks at the intersection of these circles. And then we ask, “Will the audience get excited about this talk?” If yes, you’ve made it to the next round!

NOTE: WHILE IT’S *NICE* IF YOUR TALK FITS NEATLY WITH THE YEAR’S THEME IT IS NOT NECESSARY.  IN OTHER WORDS, DON’T FORCE IT. IT WON’T IMPACT OUR DECISION NEGATIVELY.